Abstract: A PC-based computing system employing a silicon chip having a routing unit, a control unit and profiling unit for parallelizing multiple GPU-driven pipeline cores according to the object division mode of parallelization operation, during a graphics application. The PC-based computing system includes system memory for storing software graphics applications, software drivers and graphics libraries, and an operating system (OS), stored in the system memory, and a central processing unit (CPU), for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers and graphics libraries. The system also includes a CPU/memory interface module and a CPU bus. The routing unit (i) routes the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands from the graphics application to one or more of the GPU-driven pipeline cores, and (ii) routes pixel data output from one or more of GPU-driven pipeline cores during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface.

Abstract: An Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network supporting the capture of shipping document images and recognition-processing thereof initiated from a point of shipment pickup and completed while shipments are transported to its first scanning point in said network so as to significantly increase velocity of shipping information through the network, as well as reduce delivery time over the network.

Abstract: A PC-based computing system employing a silicon chip implementing parallelized GPU-driven pipelines cores supporting multiple modes of parallelization dynamically controlled while running a graphics application. The PC-based computing system includes system memory for storing software graphics applications, software drivers and graphics libraries, and an operating system (OS), stored in the system memory, and a central processing unit (CPU), for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers and graphics libraries. The system also includes a CPU/memory interface module and a CPU bus. The routing unit (i) routes the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands from the graphics application to one or more of the GPU-driven pipeline cores, and (ii) routes pixel data output from one or more of GPU-driven pipeline cores during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface.

Abstract: A digital image capturing and processing system for automatically recognizing objects in a POS environment. The system includes a system housing having an imaging window; illumination and imaging stations for generating and projecting illumination and imaging planes or zones through the imaging window, and into a 3D imaging volume definable relative to the imaging window, for digital imaging an object passing through the 3D imaging volume, and generating digital linear images of the object as the object intersects the illumination and imaging planes or zones during system operation. A digital image processor processes the digital images and automatically recognizes the object, such as produce and fruit, graphically represented by the digital images.

Abstract: A PC-based computing system capable of displaying images of 3-D objects during an interactive process between said computing system and a user thereof. The PC-based computing system includes a system memory for storing software graphics applications, software drivers and graphics libraries, and an operating system (OS), stored in the system memory, and a central processing unit (CPU), for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers. and graphics libraries. The system also includes an CPU interface module, a PC bus, a graphics processing subsystem interfaced with the CPU interface module by way of the PC bus, and a display surface for displaying said images by graphically displaying frames of pixel data produced by the graphics processing subsystem. The graphics processing subsystem includes a plurality of GPUs arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to a parallelization mode of operation so that the GPUs support multiple graphics pipelines and process data in a parallel manner.

Abstract: PC-based computing system having an integrated graphics subsystem supporting parallel graphics processing operations across a plurality of different graphics processing units (GPUs) supplied from the same or different vendors. The graphics subsystem include a graphics controller hub (GCH) chip located on a CPU bus, and having Multi-Pipeline Core Logic (MP-CL) circuitry including a routing unit and a control unit. The plurality of different GPUs are interfaced with the GCH chip. Each different GPU supports a GPU-driven pipeline core having a frame buffer (FB) for storing a fragment of pixel data. The GPU-driven pipeline cores are arranged in a parallel architecture and operated according to a parallelization mode of operation, so that said GPU-driven pipeline cores process data in a parallel manner.

Abstract: A laser beam generation system having an integrated coherence reduction mechanism. The system includes: a flexible circuit having a first end portion and a second end portion; a laser diode mounted on the first end portion of the flexible circuit, for producing a laser beam having a central characteristic wavelength; diode current drive circuitry for producing a diode drive current to drive the laser diode and produce said laser beam; and high frequency modulation (HFM) circuitry also mounted on the first end portion of the flexible circuit, for modulating the diode drive current at a sufficiently high frequency to cause the laser diode to produce a laser beam having a spectral side-band components about the central characteristic wavelength, and thereby reducing the coherence as well as coherence length of the laser beam.

Abstract: A PC-based computing system capable of displaying images of 3-D objects during an interactive process between said computing system and a user thereof. The PC-based computing system includes system memory for storing software graphics applications, software drivers and graphics libraries, and an operating system (OS), stored in the system memory, and a central processing unit (CPU), for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers. and graphics libraries. The system also includes an CPU interface module and a PC bus, a graphics processing subsystem interfaced with the CPU interface module by way of the PC bus, and a display surface for displaying said images by graphically displaying frames of pixel data produced by the graphics processing subsystem.

Abstract: A method of providing a PC-based computing system with parallel graphics processing capabilities, wherein the PC-based computing system includes (i) system memory (ii) an operating system (OS, (iii) one or more graphics applications, stored in said system memory, (iv) one or more graphic libraries, (v) a central processing unit (CPU) for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers and graphics libraries, (vi) an CPU interface module for interfacing with the CPU, (vii) a PC bus, and (viii) a display surface for displaying images of 3D objects. The method involves interfacing a hardware hub having a hub router, with the CPU interface module using the PC bus. The hardware hub is interfaced with a plurality of graphic processing units (GPUs), using the PC bus, so that the GPUs are arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to a parallelization mode of operation so that the GPUs support multiple graphics pipelines and process data in a parallel manner.

Abstract: An electronic admission pass system for installation in a controlled environment in which a plurality of persons are permitted admission. The system includes at least one activator modules installed within the controlled environment, and a plurality of updateable electronic-ink labels issued to a plurality of individuals who may be admitted within the controlled environment. The activator module sends and transmits electromagnetic signals within the environment. Each electronic-ink pass employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The electronic-ink pass includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in communication with storage element. A signal transmitting structure transmits signals from the antenna structure to the activator module.

Abstract: Method of and Apparatus for an Internet-based network for shipping, tracking and delivering a shipment of packages from a point of shipment pickup to point of destination. At the point of shipment pickup a digital image of the shipping documents are captured and processed to extract the original shipment tracking number and optional shipping information. This information is automatically encoded into digital image files prior to transmission to an application server, and stored in a shipping information DBMS. While the shipment of packages is in transit, from the point of shipment pickup to the first scanning point in the Internet-based network, early billing processing of the shipment is initiated and facilitated to speed up time of payment.

Abstract: A graphics hub subsystem for interfacing parallelized graphics processing units (GPUs) with the CPU of a PC-based computing system having a CPU interface module and a PC bus. The PC-based computing system includes system memory for storing software graphics applications, software drivers and graphics libraries, and an operating system (OS), stored in the system memory, and a central processing unit (CPU), for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers. and graphics libraries. The graphics hub subsystem includes a hardware hub having a hub router for interfacing with the CPU interface module and the GPUs by way of the PC bus, distributing the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands among the GPUs, and transferring pixel data output from one or more of the GPUs during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface. The subsystem also includes one or more software hub drivers, stored in the system memory.

Abstract: A multi-GPU graphics processing subsystem for installation in a PC-based computing system having a CPU and a CPU interface module including a PC bus. The graphics processing subsystem interfaced with the CPU interface module by way of the PC bus, and a display surface for displaying said images by graphically displaying frames of pixel data produced by the graphics processing subsystem. The graphics processing subsystem includes a plurality of GPUs arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to a parallelization mode of operation so that each GPU supports a graphics pipeline and is allowed to process data in a parallel manner.

Abstract: A laser illumination beam generation system including a laser diode (LD) for producing a laser beam in response to a diode current supplied thereto, wherein the laser beam has a central characteristic wavelength. Diode current drive circuitry generates the diode current and supplies the same to the VLD. A high frequency modulation (HFM) circuitry modulates the diode current supplied to the laser diode, so as to produce a spectral side-band components about the central characteristic wavelength, and thereby reduces the coherence of the laser illumination beam as well as its coherence length. An optical multiplexing (OMUX) device receives the laser beam as an input beam and generates multiple laser beams therefrom and recombines the multiple laser beams so as to produce a composite output laser illumination beam having reduce coherence.

Abstract: A PC-based computing system capable of displaying images of 3-D objects during an interactive process between said computing system and a user thereof. The PC-based computing system includes a graphics processing subsystem having a plurality of GPUs arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to an object division mode of parallel operation so that each GPU supports a graphics pipeline for processing data in a parallel manner according to the object division mode. A hardware hub, interfaces with a CPU interface module and the GPUs, and has a hub router for (i) distributing the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands among the GPUs, and (ii) transferring pixel data output from one or more of GPUs during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface. A CPU interface module provides an interface between one or more software hub drivers and the hardware hub.

Abstract: An automatic digital video-imaging based code symbol reading system for use in point of sale (POS) environments, employing automatic object motion detection and illumination control, and digital video-imaging based code symbol reading techniques, which ensures the reliable reading of code symbols graphically represented in digital images, in high-throughput point-of-sale and other environments, while providing the versatility required to accommodate the different ways in which operators present objects for code symbol reading at POS environments.

Abstract: An electronic-ink based RFID tag for attachment to a consumer item and displaying graphical indicia indicating whether or not the item has been read and its integrated RFID module has been activated or deactivated. In response to privacy concerns of consumers, the present invention provides new way of and means for allowing a consumer to readily determine the state of an RFID tag on a consumer item (i.e. activated or deactivated) through the use of a visual indicator integrated with the electronic-ink based RFID tag. The RFID tag has an addressable display label employing a layer of electronic ink, for displaying a first visual indicator when its RFID module has been activated to indicate that the unique identifier associated consumer item has not yet be read, and a second visual indicator when the RFID module has been deactivated to indicate that the unique identifier associated the consumer item has been read.

Abstract: A digital image capturing and processing system including a system housing having an imaging window; illumination and imaging stations for generating and projecting illumination and imaging planes or zones through the imaging window, and into a 3D imaging volume definable relative to the imaging window, for digital imaging an object passing through the 3D imaging volume, and generating digital linear images of the object as the object intersects the illumination and imaging planes or zones during system operation. A digital image processor processes the digital images and automatically recognizes graphical intelligence (e.g. bar code symbols, alphanumeric characters etc) graphically represented in the digital images.

Abstract: An electronic product price display system for installation in a retail environment. The system includes a plurality of electronic-ink display labels, associated with a plurality of consumer products stored in the retail environment. One or more activation modules are provided within the retail environment, for providing instructions employed in the determination of graphical indicia to be displayed on the electronic-ink display labels. Each electronic-ink display label employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The electronic-ink display label includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in communication with storage element. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the activation module, using the antenna structure.

Abstract: A planar laser illumination module (PLIM) including: (i) a laser illumination source driven preferably by high frequency modulated (HFM) diode current drive circuitry; (ii) a beam collimating optics disposed beyond the laser illumination source; (ii) an optical beam multiplexer (OMUX) device disposed beyond the collimating optics; and (iv) a planarizing-type illumination lens array disposed beyond the OMUX device, and arranged for generating a plurality of substantially planar coherence-reduced laser illumination beams (PLIBs) that form a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) having substantially reduced spatial/temporal coherence.